This Nature article emphasizes the importance of expressing the excitement of research through one’s scientific writing. Done successfully, communicating science can both increase its accessibility and progress your career. The author explains how to use research to tell a story, determining when to write and when to use a figure, and more.
Read the full article here.
PSPDG will host a hands-on science communication workshop with Eliza Barclay, Health and Science editor of Vox News. Lunch will be provided!
When: April 12th, 12-1 PM
Where: Smilow 09-146AB
RSVP here.
The Graduate Student Center offers a number of career development workshops throughout the semester, as part of their “Navigating the Academy Events,” “Publishing Series,” and “Teaching Workshops.” Two of these workshops are highlighted below; see the full list here.
Introduction to R Markdown.
Mar. 11, 12 – 1 PM (Room 305, Grad Center, 3615 Locust Walk)
Do you use the programming language R to analyze your data? If so, come to this workshop to find out how you can use R Markdown, a document format for writing reproducible, dynamic reports. Katie Rawson, Director of Learning Innovation at Penn Libraries, will run this workshop. Lunch will provided; find more details and register here.
Who Owns Your Scholarship? Understanding Publishing Agreements to Regain Your Author Rights.
Mar. 12, 1:30 – 3 PM (Room 305, Grad Center, 3615 Locust Walk)
This workshop will cover the basics of reading and understanding publishing contracts as well as ways to retain more of your rights through author addenda or negotiation. Find more details and register here.
This feature in The Open Notebook explores the phenomenon known as impostor syndrome, specifically within the field of science writing. According to the author, feelings of being an impostor are especially common in competitive and creative fields, and those where evaluations are subjective. Within the field of science writing, there is an additional component. Writers tend to compare their multiple, imperfect drafts with others’ polished, published pieces.
The author also describes tactics to mitigate feelings of impostorism, such as seeking social support or reframing your accomplishments.
Read more here.
At the Fifth Annual Microbiome Symposium, scientist and The New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer discusses changing standards in journalism as it pertains to science reporting. The talk is sponsored by the Penn Vet Center for Host-Microbial Interactions and the PennCHOP Microbiome Program.
For more information, visit vet.upenn.edu. (Via Penn Today)
When: Wednesday, November 7, 2018. 6:00 – 7:30 PM.
Where: Hill Pavilion, 380 S. University Ave.
ISTOCK.COM/SORBETTO
This article in Science describes the career exploration path of Shengpei Wang—a fifth year Ph.D. student at Syracuse University in New York. While considering a move toward a career in data analytics, Shengpei found herself unsure of whether she was capable of the career switch. She visited her university’s career support center, where she learned of a set of online “job simulations.”
The author describes how the simulations helped Shengpei and other scientists at various points in their careers to explore various industries before making a decision. Each simulation takes about 4 to 8 hours, considerably less time than is required to explore potential careers through training, internships, or interviews. Topics include business, clinical trials, science communication, regulatory affairs, and more.
Read more here.
This article from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology profiles two Ph.D. scientists who work at national laboratories. Tom Metz leads a metabolomics team at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Mollie Rappé is a science writer at Sandia National Laboratories. The scientists describe how they reached their current positions and what working in the national laboratory system is like.
The American Society for Cell Biology provides an insightful article by Dr. Gaia Cantelli, lecturing fellow at Duke University. Cantelli writes about the importance of effective communication in science. The ability to explain science, whether to the public, to educate students, or to communicate with patient advocates is crucial, she asserts. Writing is perhaps even more important for those seeking nonacademic careers, as an in-demand transferrable skill. Cantelli provides insights on conventions for science vs scientific writing as well as general tips to hone your skills.
Researchers in the biomedical sciences must often explain technically-complex material to non-experts, with ‘non-experts’ comprising diverse individuals including collaborators, new lab members, or audiences at a conference talk.
In this workshop, we will discuss best practices for tailoring the communication of technical information with Dr. Casey Greene who leads the Integrative Genomics Laboratory. Attendees will learn and practice these important communication skills, and benefit from the advice from a BGS faculty member with extensive experience! Counts toward the CTL Teaching Certificate.
When: Oct 10 2018, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: BRB 1201
RSVP here.
Contact Katerina Placek for more information.
The Open Notebook/Burroughs Wellcome Fund fellowship for early-career science writers is now accepting applications for their next two fellowship periods. The first will begin on January 2, 2019 and end on August 31, 2019. The subsequent fellowship period will begin on July 1, 2019 and end on February 28, 2020.
During this remote and part-time fellowship, fellows will report and write six articles for publication at The Open Notebook and will receive a stipend of $4,200.
Eligibility
“The fellowship is open to early-career science writers with fewer than two years of professional science writing experience. (Internships and student work do not count toward this requirement). Graduate students interested in science writing are eligible. Prospective fellows must be available to devote sufficient time to completing articles as specified in the fellowship description. (International applicants are welcome. Note that applications, including writing samples and letters of recommendation, must be in English.)” (Via The Open Notebook)
Apply by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Central time on October 11, 2018.
Click here to apply.